Albert Pujols hit an RBI double during a four-run first inning and the St. Louis bullpen bailed out ChrisCarpenter as the Cardinals beat the Milwaukee Brewers 4-3 last night for a 2-1 edge in the NL championship series.

In a matchup of aces, neither Carpenter nor 17-game Yovani Gallardo made it past the fifth. The one-run lead Carpenter handed over was just enough, as four relievers combined for four perfect innings.

The former city administrator for Brentwood, Mo. is on probation for the next five years, including six months of house arrest, for embezzling about $30,000 from the mid-county municipality.

Christopher A. Seemayer will also have to pay a fine of $2,000 and make restitution of $15,383 to the city. He pleaded guilty in June to two counts of federal program theft for taking cash advances on the city of Brentwood credit card to use while gambling at the Casino Queen in East St. Louis. The city, unaware of Seemayer's actions, paid the bills with city funds.